Electronic devices, ordering methods, and programs

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus that reduces an error in the number of remaining usage days when the electronic apparatus is not used irregularly.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus for calculating remaining usage days of components used in the electronic apparatus, has: a remaining usage days calculating unit that calculates the remaining usage days when a preset period is an unused period during which the electronic apparatus has not been used, based on a past usage period excluding the unused period and a current actual usage rate or a current predicted usage rate; and an ordering unit that orders the components when the number of remaining usage days is less than a threshold value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device, an ordering method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to predict when various parts installed in electronic devices such as image forming devices will need to be replaced, the image forming device calculates the remaining number of usable days for each part (hereinafter referred to as "remaining usable days"). The image forming device sends the remaining usable days to a monitoring information processing device or displays it on an operation panel, allowing replacement parts to be ordered and delivered at the appropriate time.

[0003] A technology for calculating the remaining number of days of use of various parts has been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for predicting the remaining number of days of use of units installed in an image forming device by detecting whether or not the image forming device has been used on a daily basis and predicting the number of regular office holidays. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional techniques have a problem in that errors in the remaining days of use are likely to occur when days when an electronic device is not used occur irregularly. For example, when an electronic device is not used for a long period of time due to a lockdown or a malfunction of the electronic device, it becomes difficult to predict the days when the electronic device will not be used.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that reduces errors in the remaining number of days of use when there are irregular days when the electronic device is not used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an electronic device that calculates the remaining number of days of use of a part used by the electronic device, the electronic device including: a remaining number of days of use calculation unit that calculates the remaining number of days of use based on a past usage period excluding the unused period and a current actual usage rate or a current predicted usage rate when a preset period is an unused period when the electronic device is not being used; and an ordering unit that orders the part when the remaining number of days of use is less than a threshold value. The preset period is a period set by a user, and an unused period determination unit determines that the period set by the user is an unused period if not even one day of the number of days included in the period set by the user is used, and the remaining days calculation unit converts the period set by the user into days and calculates the remaining days of use. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] It is possible to provide an electronic device that reduces errors in the remaining number of days of use when there are irregular days when the electronic device is not used. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for predicting the remaining number of days of use when there is no unused period. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an error in the remaining number of days of use caused by a lockdown. [Figure 3] 10 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a method for calculating the remaining number of use days according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an equipment system. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an example of a functional block diagram illustrating functions of an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus included in the equipment system in a block form. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for determining whether a device is used or unused in units of a certain period, and calculating the remaining number of days of use based on the usage period excluding the unused period. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for calculating the remaining number of usable days when determining the unused period on a weekly basis. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether each week is in a used period or an unused period. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether a month is in a used period or an unused period. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for determining whether each period set by a user is a used period or an unused period. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by a remaining days calculation unit to calculate the remaining days of use. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus and an ordering method performed by the image forming apparatus will be described below as an example of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] <An example of how to predict remaining days of use> First, an example of a method for predicting remaining days of use will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a method for predicting remaining days of use when there is no unused period. In FIG. 1, the horizontal axis represents the number of days, and the vertical axis represents the usage rate of the part. The usage rate indicates the current number of days (hours) of use relative to the lifespan (remaining days or usage time of a new part), but it may simply be the remaining days of use of a new part. The usage rate is a value that can be exchanged for usage time.

[0011] The usage rate is zero immediately after a part is replaced, and the end of its life is the point when the usage rate reaches 100%. The image forming device calculates the slope of the predicted usage rate 12 in Figure 1 from the current number of days the part has been in use and the past accumulated usage rate, and predicts the number of days until the usage rate will reach its end of life value. Figure 1 shows both the actual usage rate 11 and the predicted usage rate 12, and they are almost identical. By ordering replacement parts a few days before the end of the image forming device's life (seven days in the figure), the user can smoothly replace parts that have reached the end of their life without needlessly holding replacement parts in stock. In this way, if there are no days when the image forming device is not used, appropriate ordering can be performed based on the predicted usage rate 12.

[0012] However, in recent business activities, due to changes in working styles such as suspension of office attendance due to city lockdowns and the spread of employees working from home, situations have arisen in which image forming apparatuses 20 are not necessarily used continuously. In such cases, situations may arise in which users end up with excess inventory if orders are placed too early, or customer engineers are unable to deliver replacement parts before the end of their lifespan.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the error in remaining days of use caused by a lockdown. Lockdown 201 occurred during the use period of a part. During lockdown 201, image forming device 20 was hardly used. However, after lockdown 201, users used image forming device 20 at a faster pace than before lockdown in order to catch up on delayed work. As a result, the slope of utilization rate 11 after lockdown 201 is steeper than before lockdown.

[0014] In this way, the remaining days of use calculated without considering the occurrence of a lockdown will result in an incorrect predicted end-of-life date. In the example of Figure 2, the predicted end-of-life date is P days later than the actual end-of-life date, so replacement parts are ordered later than expected, resulting in a situation where the user does not obtain the replacement part even when the part reaches the end of its life.

[0015] <Method for calculating remaining days of use in this embodiment> Next, a method for calculating the remaining number of use days according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the method for calculating the remaining number of use days according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming device 20 determines whether each period is a use period or an unused period, and calculates the remaining number of use days based on the use period excluding the unused period. In FIG. 3, the fourth period 202 from the left is an unused period. Therefore, the predicted usage rate for the fifth period 203 from the left is calculated excluding the period 202. The image forming device 20 determines whether the image forming device 20 is in use or unused in units of a certain period, and predicts the remaining number of days based on the number of use days excluding that period.

[0016] In this way, by excluding the period during which the image forming apparatus 20 is not in use, it is possible to calculate a predicted remaining number of days that is closer to the actual usage environment of the customer, enabling customer engineers and others to deliver parts at a more appropriate time.

[0017] <Terminology> A part is an item that enables a machine or device to perform its expected function. Parts may also be called parts, components, units, etc. Parts may also include consumables and optional items. In the case of an image forming device, parts include toner cartridges, paper, etc.

[0018] The preset period is at least two days or more. The preset period may be a period on a calendar or a period set arbitrarily. The period does not have to be fixed. In this embodiment, a period of one week, one month, or a period set by the user will be described as an example.

[0019] The remaining number of days of use is the number of days remaining for which the electronic device or part can be used. In this embodiment, the remaining number of days of use is calculated in terms of a period or in terms of days.

[0020] <System configuration example> Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a machine system 100. The machine system 100 shown in Fig. 4 includes an information processing device 40 and an image forming device 20, which are communicably connected via a wide area network N such as the Internet. It is not necessary for the information processing device 40 and the image forming device 20 to be connected to the network N at all times. In addition, a customer support center 10 (a terminal device or the like owned by the customer support center 10) is connected to the network N.

[0021] The image forming apparatus 20 is installed in an equipment installation location such as an office. The equipment installation location may be, for example, an office of a company or a local government, a factory, a convenience store, a public facility, or the like, but the image forming apparatus 20 may be installed anywhere.

[0022] The image forming device 20 is one of various electronic devices used by a user, and forms and outputs an image on paper. The image forming device 20 may use a printing method such as electrophotography, inkjet, or thermal transfer, but the printing method is not critical. The image forming device 20 may also be called a printing device, printer, output device, or the like. The image forming device 20 may also have multiple functions such as a scanner, fax sender / receiver, printer, and copier. In this case, the image forming device 20 is called a multifunction device or MFP (Multifunction Peripheral).

[0023] Furthermore, the image forming device 20 may be any device that requires part replacement, such as a projector, an electronic whiteboard, a video conferencing terminal, a digital signage, a digital camera, a HUD (Head Up Display) device, industrial machinery, an imaging device, a sound collection device, a medical device, a network home appliance, or a game console.

[0024] The image forming apparatus 20 may be subject to a tenant contract. A tenant is an organization such as a company or local government that has entered into a contract to receive services from a service provider (in this embodiment, a sales company of the image forming apparatus 20, etc.). In this case, the image forming apparatus 20 is registered with the information processing apparatus 40, and can receive services such as dispatch of a customer engineer, delivery and replacement of parts, etc. within the scope of the contract.

[0025] The information processing device 40 is realized by one or more computers, and receives the remaining days of use of the image forming device 20, a parts ordering request, counter information, etc. via the network N. When the information processing device 40 receives a parts ordering request, it notifies the customer support center 10. The information processing device 40 may also place an order based on the remaining days of use. The information processing device 40 performs billing processing for parts, etc., and bills the customer of the image forming device 20 at a set time such as the end of the month. The information processing device 40 can also store counter information and determine the timing of maintenance, etc.

[0026] The information processing device 40 may be realized by cloud computing, or may be realized by a single information processing device 40. Cloud computing refers to a form in which resources on a network are used without being aware of specific hardware resources. The information processing device 40 may exist on the Internet or on-premise.

[0027] Terminal devices and the like are placed in the customer support center 10. The terminal devices may be servers, or may be e-mail receiving servers, etc. The customer support center 10 has a stock of various parts, and in response to a delivery request from the information processing device 40 for a part that specifies a customer, a customer engineer or the like delivers the part to the customer.

[0028] The terminal device may be any general-purpose information processing device, such as a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

[0029] <Hardware configuration example> <<Image forming device>> 5 is an example of a hardware block diagram of the image forming apparatus 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 20 includes a controller 910, an IC card reader 920, an engine control unit 930, an operation panel 940, and a network I / F 950.

[0030] Of these, the controller 910 has a CPU 901, which is the main part of the computer, a system memory (MEM-P) 902, a north bridge (NB) 903, a south bridge (SB) 904, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 906, a local memory (MEM-C) 907, which is a storage unit, an HDD controller 908, and an HD 909, which is also a storage unit, and is configured such that the NB 903 and the ASIC 906 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921.

[0031] Of these, the CPU 901 is a control unit that performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 20. The NB 903 is a bridge that connects the CPU 901 with the MEM-P 902, the SB 904, and the AGP bus 921, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 902, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target.

[0032] The MEM-P 902 comprises a ROM 902a, which is memory for storing programs and data that realize the functions of the controller 910, and a RAM 902b, which is used for expanding the programs and data and as a drawing memory during memory printing. The programs stored in the RAM 902b may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, or DVD.

[0033] The SB 904 is a bridge for connecting the NB 903 with PCI devices and peripheral devices. The ASIC 906 is an integrated circuit (IC) for image processing applications that has hardware elements for image processing and serves as a bridge connecting the AGP bus 921, PCI bus 922, HDD controller 908, and MEM-C 907. The ASIC 906 includes a PCI target and AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 906, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 907, multiple direct memory access controllers (DMACs) that perform image data rotation using hardware logic, and a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 931, printer unit 932, and facsimile unit via the PCI bus 922. The ASIC 906 may also have a universal serial bus (USB) interface or an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394 (IEEE 1394) interface.

[0034] The MEM-C907 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and a code buffer. The HD909 is a storage for storing image data, font data used during printing, and forms. The HD909 controls the reading and writing of data from and to the HD909 under the control of the CPU901. The AGP bus 921 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed to speed up graphics processing, and direct high-throughput access to the MEM-P902 enables the graphics accelerator card to operate at high speed.

[0035] The IC card reader 920 is also provided with an antenna 920a. The IC card reader 920 is a communication circuit such as NFC or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0036] The engine control unit 930 further includes a scanner unit 931, a printer unit 932, and a facsimile unit 933. The operation panel 940 includes a panel display unit 940a, such as a touch panel, that displays current setting values ​​and selection screens and receives inputs from the operator, and hard keys 940b, such as a numeric keypad that receives setting values ​​for image formation conditions such as density setting conditions, and a start key that receives a copy start command. The controller 910 controls the entire image forming apparatus 20, and controls, for example, drawing, communication, and inputs from the operation panel 940. The scanner unit 931 or the printer unit 932 includes an image processing unit such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

[0037] The image forming apparatus 20 can sequentially switch among the document box function, copy function, printer function, and facsimile function using the application switching key on the operation panel 940. When the document box function is selected, the image forming apparatus 20 enters document box mode, when the copy function is selected, the image forming apparatus 20 enters copy mode, when the printer function is selected, the image forming apparatus 20 enters printer mode, and when the facsimile mode is selected, the image forming apparatus 20 enters facsimile mode.

[0038] The network I / F 950 is an interface for performing data communication using the network N. The IC card reader 920 and the network I / F 950 are electrically connected to the ASIC 906 via a PCI bus 922.

[0039] <<Information processing equipment>> Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing device 40. As shown in Fig. 6, the information processing device 40 is constructed by a computer, and includes a CPU 501, a ROM 502, a RAM 503, a HD (Hard Disk) 504, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 505, a display 506, an external device connection I / F (Interface) 508, a network I / F 509, a bus line 510, a keyboard 511, a pointing device 512, an optical drive 514, and a media I / F 516.

[0040] Of these, the CPU 501 controls the overall operation of the information processing device 40. The ROM 502 stores programs, such as an IPL, used to drive the CPU 501. The RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 501. The HD 504 stores various data, such as programs. The HDD controller 505 controls the reading and writing of various data from and to the HD 504 under the control of the CPU 501. The display 506 displays various information, such as a cursor, menus, windows, characters, or images. The external device connection I / F 508 is an interface for connecting various external devices. In this case, the external devices are, for example, USB (Universal Serial Bus) memories, printers, etc. The network I / F 509 is an interface for data communication using the network N. The bus line 510 is an address bus, a data bus, etc. for electrically connecting the components, such as the CPU 501, shown in FIG. 6.

[0041] The keyboard 511 is a type of input means having multiple keys used to input characters, numbers, various instructions, etc. The pointing device 512 is a type of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, etc. The optical drive 514 controls reading and writing of various data from a removable optical storage medium 513. The optical storage medium 513 may be a CD, DVD, Blu-Ray (registered trademark), etc. The media I / F 516 controls reading and writing (storing) of data from a storage medium 515 such as a flash memory.

[0042] <About the function> FIG. 7 is an example of a functional block diagram showing the functions of the image forming apparatus 20 and the information processing apparatus 40 included in the equipment system 100 in a block form.

[0043] <<Image forming device>> The image forming device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a display control unit 22, an operation reception unit 23, an image data generation unit 24, a facsimile processing unit 25, a printing unit 26, an unused state determination unit 27, a remaining days of use calculation unit 28, and an ordering unit 29. Each of these functional units is a function or means realized by the CPU 901 executing instructions contained in one or more programs installed in the image forming device 20. The programs may be a web browser (web app) or a dedicated application (native app).

[0044] The communication unit 21 transmits and receives various information to and from the information processing device 40. In this embodiment, the communication unit 21 transmits to the information processing device 40 the remaining number of days of use, an order for parts, and the like.

[0045] The display control unit 22 interprets screen information of various screens and displays it on the panel display unit 940a. The operation receiving unit 23 receives various operations by the user on the various screens displayed on the panel display unit 940a.

[0046] When the application selected by the operation receiving unit 23 generates image data, the image data generating unit 24 scans the document with the scanner unit 931 and generates image data.

[0047] The facsimile processing unit 25 performs processing related to the reception and transmission of facsimiles by the facsimile unit 933. The facsimile processing unit 25 may generate an execution event of an application corresponding to the sender (FAX number) of the facsimile.

[0048] The printing unit 26 converts the image data generated by the image data generating unit 24 or a print job sent from a PC into image data and prints it on paper.

[0049] The unused state determining unit 27 determines whether the image forming device 20 has been used or unused for each week, month, or period set by the user.

[0050] The remaining use days calculation unit 28 calculates the remaining use days of various parts of the image forming apparatus 20 based on the past use period and the increase in the usage rate during that use period, excluding unused periods. Therefore, the remaining use days are measured in units of one week or one month. However, if use or unused is determined based on a period set by the user, the remaining use days may be measured in units of days.

[0051] When the remaining days of use fall below a threshold, the ordering unit 29 places an order for a replacement part with the information processing device 40. The order may be placed with the customer support center 10 or a production base. The threshold is the sum of the number of days until the remaining days of use are expected to reach zero and the number of days required for delivery, and is, for example, 7 days.

[0052] The functions of the remaining days of use calculation unit 28 and the ordering unit 29 may be included in the information processing device 40.

[0053] <<Information processing equipment>> The information processing device 40 has a communication unit 31, an order processing unit 32, and an accounting unit 33. Each of these functional units is a function or means realized by the CPU 501 shown in FIG. 6 executing instructions contained in one or more programs installed in the information processing device 40.

[0054] The communication unit 31 transmits and receives various information to and from the image forming apparatus 20. In this embodiment, the communication unit 31 receives information such as the remaining number of days of use or an order for parts from the image forming apparatus 20.

[0055] The order processing unit 32 places an order for replacement parts to the customer support center 10 or the like in response to an order request from the image forming apparatus 20 .

[0056] When the billing unit 33 receives notification of the completion of delivery of the parts from the customer support center 10, it bills the customer using the image forming apparatus 20 for the cost of the parts.

[0057] <Unused period based on a certain period> Next, an example of an unused period will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method for determining whether a certain period is used or unused and calculating the remaining number of days of use based on the usage period excluding the unused period.

[0058] The process of determining whether a certain period is a used period or an unused period will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0059] Fig. 8(a) is a diagram for explaining how to determine whether an image forming apparatus 20 is in use or unused on a weekly basis. In Fig. 8(a), the number of days on the horizontal axis is divided into one-week intervals. In Fig. 8(a), the third, fourth, and eighth weeks are determined to be unused periods 210. Determining on a weekly basis is a determination method that can accommodate long periods of non-business time during normal corporate activities, such as summer vacation or winter vacation.

[0060] FIG. 8(b) is a diagram for explaining how to determine whether an image forming apparatus 20 is in use or unused on a monthly basis. In FIG. 8(b), the number of days on the horizontal axis is divided into months. In FIG. 8(b), the second month is determined to be an unused period 211. Determining by month is a determination method that can predict the number of remaining days of use while taking into account only the effects of lockdowns, long-term holidays, etc. This is advantageous when operating a service, etc., and you want to operate without significantly changing the current predicted number of remaining days of use.

[0061] FIG. 8(c) is a diagram for explaining how the image forming apparatus 20 is determined to be in use or unused for each number of days set by the user. In FIG. 8(c), the number of days on the horizontal axis is divided into irregular periods set by the user. In FIG. 8(c), three of these periods are determined to be unused periods 212. The determination for each number of days set by the user can be adjusted to an unused period that suits the user's usage environment. In addition, by setting the planned number of days in advance before going on a long vacation, it is possible to accurately determine the unused period.

[0062] <Example of calculation of remaining days of use> An example of calculating the remaining number of use days will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method for calculating the remaining number of use days when determining unused periods on a weekly basis. The remaining use days calculation unit 28 calculates the use rate increase coefficients 220 to 227 from the increase in the use rate in past use periods and the number of use periods, as shown in formula (1).

[0063] Usage rate growth factor = Total increase in usage rate (measured value) over the past usage periods ÷ Number of usage periods... (1) The utilization growth factors 220 to 227 are the predicted utilization growth rates per week. Therefore, the utilization growth factors 220 to 227 are equivalent to a predicted utilization rate of 12 for one week.

[0064] For example, if the first week ends and is determined to be a usage period, the usage growth factor 220 for the second week is as follows:

[0065] Week 2 usage growth factor 220 = total usage growth in week 1 ÷ number of usage periods (1) Once the usage rate increase factor 220 for week 2 is known, it becomes possible to calculate the number of remaining days of use at the end of week 1. A method for calculating the number of remaining days of use using the usage rate increase factor 220 will be described later.

[0066] Next, if the second week ends and it is determined that the usage period has begun, the usage rate increase coefficient 221 for the third week will be as follows: Note that if it is determined that the usage period has begun, the predicted usage rate for the second week, 12 (usage rate increase coefficient for the second week, 220), is added to the usage rate for the first week, 11.

[0067] Week 3 usage growth factor 221 = sum of usage growth in weeks 1 and 2 ÷ number of usage periods (2) Knowing the usage growth factor 221 for week 3 allows the remaining days of use at the end of week 2 to be calculated. However, because week 3 was determined to be an unused period at the end of week 3, the predicted usage rate 12 remains constant for week 3. For unused periods, the remaining days of use are not calculated.

[0068] The usage growth factor 222 for week 4 is calculated in the same way as for week 3, but because week 4 was also determined to be an unused period at the end of week 4, the predicted usage 12 remains constant for week 4. At the end of week 4, the usage growth factor 223 for week 5 uses the usage growth factor 221 for week 3.

[0069] Next, if the end of the fifth week is determined to be the usage period, the usage rate increase factor 224 for the sixth week is as follows:

[0070] Week 6 usage growth factor 224 = sum of usage growth in weeks 1, 2, and 5 ÷ number of usage periods (3) In this way, the unused period is excluded from the number of days used. In other words, the remaining use days calculation unit 28 does not include the unused period in calculating the usage rate increase coefficient 220. Once the usage rate increase coefficient 224 for the sixth week is known, the remaining use days at the end of the fifth week can be calculated. Note that if the fifth week is determined to be a usage period, the predicted usage rate 12 for the fifth week (usage rate increase coefficient 223) is added to the predicted usage rate 12 for the fourth week.

[0071] Next, if the sixth week ends and it is determined that the usage period has ended, the usage rate increase factor 225 for the seventh week will be as follows:

[0072] Week 7 usage growth factor 225 = sum of usage growth in weeks 1, 2, 5, and 6 ÷ number of usage periods (4) Once the usage rate growth factor 225 for week 7 is known, the remaining number of days of use at the end of week 6 can be calculated. If week 6 is determined to be a usage period, the predicted usage rate of 12 for week 6 (usage rate growth factor 224) is added to the predicted usage rate of 12 for week 5.

[0073] Next, if the seventh week ends and it is determined that the usage period has ended, the usage rate increase factor 226 for the eighth week will be as follows:

[0074] Week 8 usage growth factor 226 = sum of usage growth in weeks 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 ÷ number of usage periods (5) Once the usage rate growth factor of 225 for week 8 is known, the remaining number of days of use at the end of week 7 can be calculated. If week 7 is determined to be a usage period, the predicted usage rate of 12 for week 7 (usage rate growth factor of 225) is added to the predicted usage rate of 12 for week 6.

[0075] However, because week 8 was determined to be an unused period at the end of week 8, the predicted usage rate remains constant for week 8. At the end of week 8, week 9's usage rate growth factor 227 is the same as week 8's usage rate growth factor 226. For unused periods, the remaining usage days are not calculated.

[0076] When the unused period is in months as in FIG. 8(b), the remaining use days calculation unit 28 can calculate the usage rate increase coefficient 220 in the same way as when it is in weeks.

[0077] When the user arbitrarily sets a period as shown in Figure 8(c), the usage period is not fixed, so the remaining usage days calculation unit 28 calculates the usage rate increase coefficient 220 in days, not in periods. For example, the usage rate increase coefficient for the fourth period 230 in Figure 8(c) is calculated as follows:

[0078] Utilization growth factor for the fourth period = Sum of utilization growth in the first and second periods ÷ Sum of days in the first and second periods (14)

[0079] <<Calculating remaining days of use>> Next, a method for calculating the remaining number of days of use using the usage rate increase coefficient will be described. In the example of FIG. 9, the remaining number of days of use calculation unit 28 can calculate the remaining number of days of use after the start of the week using the usage rate increase coefficient at the start of the week. The remaining number of days of use is the number of weeks until the usage rate reaches 100%, which is the lifespan, and is therefore calculated using equation (2). In equation (2), the remaining number of days of use calculation unit 28 calculates the remaining number of days of use in units of time by subtracting the current predicted usage rate from the usage rate that is the lifespan, and dividing the result by the usage rate increase coefficient. Note that the predicted usage rate in equation (2) may be the actual usage rate.

[0080] Remaining days of use (number of weeks) = (100 - predicted usage at the start of the week) / usage growth factor (2) The remaining number of weeks for which the part can be used is predicted based on the remaining number of days (number of weeks). For example, if the remaining number of days (number of weeks) for use is one week or less, the ordering unit 29 can determine to place an order.

[0081] When the usage period or unused period is one month, the remaining number of days of use is in months and is calculated by the formula (3). Note that the predicted usage rate in the formula (3) may be the actual usage rate.

[0082] Remaining days of use (number of months) = (100 - predicted usage at the start of the month) / usage growth factor (3) The remaining number of months for which the part can be used is predicted based on the remaining number of days (number of months). For example, if the remaining number of days (number of months) is 0.25 months or less, the ordering unit 29 can determine to place an order.

[0083] If the usage period or unused period is a period set by the user, the remaining number of days of use is in days and is calculated using formula (4). Note that the predicted usage rate in formula (4) may be the actual usage rate.

[0084] Remaining days of use (days) = (100 - predicted usage at the beginning of the period) / usage growth factor (4) The remaining number of days until the part can be used is predicted based on the remaining number of days (number of months). For example, if the remaining number of days (number of months) is 7 days or less, the ordering unit 29 can determine to place an order.

[0085] <How to determine the usage period and unused period> When the unused period determination unit 27 determines whether a period is a used period or an unused period on a weekly basis, it may determine whether each day is a used day or an unused day depending on whether a certain number of sheets are printed per day, and if the entire week is unused days, it may determine that the period is an unused period.

[0086] 10 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether a period is in use or unused for each week. The process in FIG. 10 is executed, for example, at a fixed time such as midnight every day.

[0087] The unused state determination unit 27 acquires the number of printed sheets from midnight to midnight on that day (S1). For example, the unused state determination unit 27 records the final counter number of the previous day, and determines the difference between this and the counter number of the current day as the number of printed sheets.

[0088] Next, the unused state determination unit 27 determines whether the number of printed sheets is equal to or greater than a threshold value (S2). The threshold value may be about 10% of the average number of printed sheets per day on past usage days. This is because there are employees who work on holidays.

[0089] If the determination in step S2 is Yes, the unused status determination unit 27 records the day in question as a used date (S3).

[0090] If the determination in step S2 is No, the unused date determination unit 27 records the day as an unused date (S4).

[0091] Next, the unused period determination unit 27 determines whether a preset week has passed (S5). A week usually runs from Monday to Friday, from Monday to Saturday, or from Monday to Sunday, but the user may set the week as desired. The unused period determination unit 27 refers to the calendar to determine whether a week has passed.

[0092] If the determination in step S5 is Yes, unused date determination unit 27 determines whether the entire week is unused (whether not a single day of the week has been used) (S6). If the determination in step S5 is No, one week has not passed, so the process in FIG. 10 ends.

[0093] If the determination in step S6 is Yes, the unused period determination unit 27 determines that the week is an unused period (S7).

[0094] If the determination in step S6 is No, the unused period determination unit 27 determines that the one week period is a used period (S8).

[0095] Fig. 11 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether a month is in a used period or an unused period. The explanation of Fig. 11 will mainly focus on the differences from Fig. 10. Steps S11 to S14 may be the same as Fig. 10.

[0096] In step S15, the unused status determination unit 27 determines whether a preset month has passed (S15). A month usually runs from the 1st to the end of the month (the 28th, 30th, and 31st), but the user may set the month as desired. The unused status determination unit 27 refers to the calendar to determine whether a month has passed.

[0097] If the determination in step S15 is Yes, the unused date determination unit 27 determines whether all the days in the month are unused dates (S16).

[0098] If the determination in step S16 is Yes, the unused period determination unit 27 determines that the month is an unused period (S17).

[0099] If the determination in step S16 is No, the unused period determination unit 27 determines that the month in question is a used period (S18).

[0100] Fig. 12 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether each period set by the user is a used period or an unused period. The explanation of Fig. 12 will mainly focus on the differences from Fig. 10. Steps S21 to S24 may be the same as Fig. 10.

[0101] In step S25, the unused state determining unit 27 determines whether the period set by the user has elapsed (S25).

[0102] If the determination in step S25 is Yes, the unused date determination unit 27 determines whether all the days in the period set by the user are unused dates (S26).

[0103] If the determination in step S26 is Yes, the unused period determination unit 27 determines that the period set by the user is an unused period (S27).

[0104] If the determination in step S26 is No, the unused period determination unit 27 determines that the period set by the user is the used period (S28).

[0105] <Calculation of remaining days of use> 13 is a flowchart illustrating the process of calculating the remaining number of days of use by the remaining days of use calculation unit 28. The process in FIG. 13 is executed when the previous period ends. Note that the process in FIG. 13 may be common regardless of the calculation period for the usage rate increase coefficient.

[0106] The remaining use days calculation unit 28 acquires the increase in each use rate during the past use period (S31).

[0107] The remaining use days calculation unit 28 calculates the use rate increase coefficient at the start of the set period by using each use rate of the past use period in equation (1) (S32).

[0108] Furthermore, the remaining use days calculation unit 28 calculates the remaining use days (weeks, months, days) using the use rate increase coefficient at the start of the period in equations (2) to (4) (S33).

[0109] The ordering unit 29 determines whether the remaining number of days of use is less than the threshold value (S34).

[0110] If the determination in step S34 is Yes, the ordering unit 29 places an order for the replacement part with the information processing device 40 (S35).

[0111] <Major Effects> As described above, in this embodiment, by excluding the period during which the image forming device 20 is not in use, it is possible to calculate a predicted remaining number of days that is closer to the actual user usage environment, making it possible to deliver replacement units at a more appropriate time.

[0112] <Other application examples> The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above using examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples in any way, and various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0113] For example, the configuration example shown in FIG. 7 and the like is divided according to main functions to facilitate understanding of the processing by the image forming apparatus 20 and the information processing apparatus 40. The method of dividing the processing units and the names thereof do not limit the present invention. The processing by the image forming apparatus 20 and the information processing apparatus 40 can be divided into even more processing units depending on the processing content. Furthermore, the processing can be divided so that one processing unit includes even more processes.

[0114] Furthermore, the devices described in the examples are merely illustrative of one of several computing environments for implementing the embodiments disclosed herein. In one embodiment, information processing apparatus 40 includes multiple computing devices, such as a server cluster. The multiple computing devices are configured to communicate with each other via any type of communication link, including a network, shared memory, etc., and perform the processes disclosed herein.

[0115] Furthermore, a process executed by a specific unit of the information processing device 40 may be executed by multiple devices included in the information processing device 40. Furthermore, the information processing device 40 may be integrated into one server device, or may be divided into multiple devices.

[0116] Each function of the above-described embodiments can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the term "processing circuit" in this specification includes a processor programmed to perform each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, as well as devices such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and conventional circuit modules designed to perform each of the above-described functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 20 Image forming device 21 Communications Department 22 Display control unit 23 Operation reception section 24 Image data generation unit 25 Facsimile Processing Unit 26 Printing Department 27 Unused judgment part 28 Remaining days usage calculation part 29 Ordering Department 40 Information processing equipment 100 Equipment Systems [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0118] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-009246

Claims

1. An electronic device that calculates the remaining number of days of use of a part used by the electronic device, If the preset period is an unused period in which the electronic device is not being used, a remaining use days calculation unit that calculates the remaining use days based on a past use period excluding the unused period and a current actual use rate or a current predicted use rate; an ordering unit that orders the part when the remaining number of days of use is less than a threshold value; The preset period is the period set by the user, an unused period determination unit that determines the period set by the user as an unused period when not even one day of the number of days included in the period set by the user is used, The electronic device is characterized in that the remaining days calculation unit converts a period set by a user into days to calculate the remaining days.

2. The remaining days of use calculation unit Calculate the usage rate increase factor for the next usage period by dividing the total usage rate increase for the previous usage period by the number of days included in the usage period; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the remaining number of days of use is calculated by subtracting the actual usage rate or the current predicted usage rate from the usage rate at the end of the lifespan and dividing the result by the usage rate increase coefficient.

3. the electronic device is an image forming device, 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the part is a toner cartridge or a paper sheet.

4. An ordering method performed by an electronic device that calculates the remaining days of use of parts used by the electronic device, If the preset period is an unused period in which the electronic device is not being used, a remaining use day calculation unit calculating the remaining use day number based on the past use period excluding the unused period and the current actual use rate or the current predicted use rate; an ordering unit ordering the part when the remaining number of days of use is less than a threshold value; The preset period is the period set by the user, an unused period determination unit that determines the period set by the user as an unused period when not even one day of the number of days included in the period set by the user is used, The ordering method is characterized in that the remaining days of use calculation unit converts the period set by the user into days to calculate the remaining days of use.

5. An electronic device that calculates the remaining days of use of parts used by the electronic device, If the preset period is an unused period in which the electronic device is not being used, a remaining use days calculation unit that calculates the remaining use days based on a past use period excluding the unused period and a current actual use rate or a current predicted use rate; an ordering unit that orders the part when the remaining number of days of use is less than a threshold value; It functions as The preset period is the period set by the user, functioning as an unused period determination unit that determines the period set by the user as an unused period when not even one day of the number of days included in the period set by the user is used; The remaining days of use calculation unit is a program for converting a period set by a user into days and calculating the remaining days of use.

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